At the end of the interview, Clarkson, who had posed for selfies with fans, left Broadcasting House with Evans, in the passenger seat of the DJ's red Ferrari.

Clarkson told the show he could work with the BBC again because, although his contract was not renewed, he was "not sacked, remember".

He refused to criticise the BBC, saying that although there were some "dreadful people" at the broadcaster there were also some very "talented people".

"It's a great organisation, I'm never going to complain about it," he said.

He said that the final Top Gear shows featuring the trio, which were not broadcast earlier this year following Clarkson's suspension, were being edited and would be shown.

But he suggested he might not be in them, adding there will be an "actual elephant in the room".

Evans played Clarkson a recording of the star speaking a year ago, when he said that if he did ever lose his Top Gear job he could do something else, even be a milkman.

The star said: "I'm not going to be a milkman, that's for damn sure, not with those early starts. That was hypothetical, now it's more sort of real."

He said of his axing: "It's my own silly fault so I can hardly complain. I was at the BBC for 27 years, in the current incarnation for 12 and Top Gear was very much my baby.

"I absolutely adored it (Top Gear) and worked all through the night and paid attention to absolutely every little detail of it and then suddenly you are not asked to do that any more and you do feel there's a big hole that needs to be filled."

He joked that the three presenters were working on a flower-arranging show, adding: "It was very sudden (leaving Top Gear) and you'd be a fool to jump out there."

Clarkson said he joined the BBC when it was "black and white" and everyone "talked fast" and added: "You emerge after 27 years ... in the meantime I'm just getting really good at tennis."

He denied that he was in talks with broadcasters, saying: "We've just been listening ... I haven't had a single meeting."

He said it could be weeks, months or even a year before he could say what he will be doing with his future.

Clarkson is set to drive around the Top Gear track one last time for charity and admitted it will be "emotional".

Try today's showbiz quiz:

Question -1 of 5Score -0 of 0

Which singer impersonated Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears and Cher for a promo of the new season of The Voice?